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Sefa Naivalu

Position

Centre

Date of birth

7 January 1992

Height

186cm

Weight

101kg

Position

Centre

Date of birth

7 January 1992

Height

186cm

Weight

101kg

Biography

One of the original NRC stars, Fijian-born ‘Super Sefa’ Naivalu became the first Dewar Shield player to sign for the Melbourne Rebels. Naivalu overcame a broken leg in 2015 and a delayed 2016 Super Rugby start to push his claims for national selection with five tries for the Rebels in as many games at the back end of the tournament. While firmly on coach Michael Cheika’s radar Naivalu had to bide his time for Wallaby selection until September when his three-year eligibility period would be satisfied. Once eligible Naivalu was immediately picked in the matchday 23 for the Rugby Championship match against South Africa in Pretoria.

Highlights

2016
Naivalu won his first Test cap off the bench against to South Africa in Pretoria. He picked up a further five Test caps over the rest of the season including his first start against France in Paris.

2017
Naivalu scored two tries before he suffered an ankle injury in his lone Test against Italy at Brisbane. On his return to rugby with the Melbourne Rising in the NRC Naivalu was forced off with a shoulder injury that subsequently required surgery to end any hope he had of featuring in the remainder of The Rugby Championship or the Spring Tour.

International

Biography

The 2015 season was a wonderful maiden professional campaign for Sefanaia Naivalu as he played 13 Super Rugby matches, scored four tries and extended his contract until at least the end of 2017. When 'Super Sefa' signed off the back of an explosive 2014 NRC campaign with the Melbourne Rising where he scored five tries, he created history as the first player ever to sign for the Rebels from the Dewar Shield competition.He moved to Melbourne to play for Box Hill Rugby Club in 2014, finishing the season as the leading point and try scorer in the competition as the Broncos improved from winless wooden-spooners to beaten Grand Finalists within a remarkable 12-month period. The lightning-quick back played predominantly on the wing for the Rebels in 2015, however has played a lot of his rugby in the centres. A leg injury suffered on his first South African tour ruled Naivalu out of the 2015 NRC.

Super Rugby 2018 season

Biography

One of the original NRC stars, ‘Super Sefa’ Naivalu became the first uncapped Dewar Shield player to sign for the Melbourne Rebels, all after starring for Box Hill in his first season in Melbourne, and seemingly scoring tries for fun in the 2014 NRC.

Predominantly a centre, Naivalu played mostly off the wing in his debut season of Super Rugby in 2015, scoring five tries in 13 games. But just as his star was seriously rising, a leg injury suffered on his first South African tour ruled Naivalu out of the 2015 NRC. He’s since extended his Rebels contract to the end of 2017.